Local women’s shelter gets year supply of shoes from the Eskimos

A generous donation of a year’s supply of shoes will be a big help to a local women’s shelter.

The Edmonton Eskimos, in partnership with Reebok, have donated 254 pairs of shoes to WIN House.

Executive Director Tess Gordey said this is a very generous donation.

“Women and children who are fleeing domestic violence, have nowhere to go, and have to start lives anew, it’s one less thing for them to worry about, so it meets a very practical need, but it also stretches the dollar of WIN House,” explained Gordey. “We raise about 1.4-million dollars a year to keep all of our programs running, and this is one less thing that we have to purchase.”

Gordey says they serve around 350 women on an annual basis, and around 500 children.

Eskimos president and CEO Len Rhodes said the team is always happy to help in the fight against domestic violence.

“Unfortunately some women and some children still have to run out of the house without the shoes on their feet,” said Rhodes. “So the donation is there to help people, functionally, but symbolically it’s really important to make sure that we’re bringing awareness, and brining light to the problems that are existing here in Edmonton, and across Alberta, and Canada, as well.”

Rhodes previously worked for Reebok, and said they agreed to help without a second thought. He added he hopes one day the organizations can donate shoes for other reasons, because domestic violence is a thing of the past. (scb)